Tom Ford for Net-a-Porter

Tom Ford's ready-to-wear designs are to be available online worldwide for the first time.

The US designer has agreed a deal with premium internet retailer Net-a-Porter, which will sell his men's and women's lines.

At the moment his collections are sold in his shops, department stores and via his website - which sells accessories and beauty but only in America. The new global deal will see fans able to get their hands on his women's clothes from July, with men having to wait until September for the collection to hit Mr Porter.

"Net-a-Porter is extremely strong in selling designer merchandise online and obviously Tom Ford ready-to-wear online, bags and shoes is a massive draw for our customer,” Sarah Rutson, Net-a-porter’s vice president of global buying, told WWD. “We’ve got a proven track record of selling at this level, especially brands that either have very limited e-commerce themselves or no e-commerce."

This isn't the first time the online retailer has scored a major deal as earlier this year it brought the Chanel jewellery line Coco Crush to its website.

Toby Bateman is the buying director of Mr Porter and explained the deal has been a long time coming, with Tom agreeing terms with Net-a-Porter chairman and founder Natalie Massenet.

"There’s been a broadening of the collection that Tom Ford is offering,” he said. “There’s been a surprising element of sportswear in those collections. That evolution is something that again makes the timing right to work with a company like Mr Porter. Not only will we be stocking the signature three-piece business suit and tuxedo program, but we’ll also be stocking really the strong denim program, too.”